Ronan Maher loan plans revealed after Walsall squad omission
The Walsall youngster was a notable absentee from their 25-man EFL squad this week.
Lee Grant has confirmed Walsall are searching for a loan move for midfielder Ronan Maher following his omission from their 25-man EFL squad on Tuesday.
The 21-year-old is yet to feature under new head coach Grant, although he was an unused substitute during their 2-2 draw against Crewe Alexandra at Gresty Road last Tuesday.
Maher has entered the final year of the two-year deal that he penned with the Saddlers in the summer of 2025.
Grant addresses Maher squad omission
And his imminent future is set to lie elsewhere, after Maher was a notable absentee when the Walsall squad was submitted this week.
On Maher’s future, Grant said: “With Ronan, we’ve got a lot of good players in the building.
“Ronan has worked really hard across pre-season and I think he’s a really talented young player, but for him now, it’s important that he’s getting an opportunity to show that week in, week out.
“He’s not going to get that opportunity in terms of being part of our squad week in, week out, so the plan has to be for Ronan to go and get games.
“We’re working with him, we’re working with his people to try and make sure that happens.
“We’ll have to wait and see, but hopefully something materialises that can be of benefit to him and his next steps.”
Maher has had a number of loan spells with Tamworth in the National League over the past two seasons, scoring seven goals and setting up five more in 36 appearances across those stints.
The Walsall academy graduate made his senior debut as a late substitute during a 4-0 opening day victory over Hartlepool United under Michael Flynn in July 2022.
He has made just 15 league appearances for Walsall, starting just twice and accumulating 246 minutes in the process in League Two.
In all competitions, Maher has played 33 times for Walsall, scoring once and setting up one more.
His last league appearance came from the bench during the Saddlers’ 4-0 victory at Swindon Town in August 2024.
He also missed part of pre-season with an elbow injury, before returning from the bench in a 1-0 defeat at AFC Telford United.
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